Russia orders arrests of film producer and director who criticised Ukraine war

Popular playwright, director and actor Mr Vyrypaev has been living and working in Warsaw for several years and has also spoken in opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Directors Andrey Zvyagintsev and Alexander Rodnyansky, right, pose for photographers after receiving the Official Competition Best Film award for their film Loveless at the London Film Festival Awards in 2014 (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

A Moscow court has ordered the arrests of prominent film producer Alexander Rodnyansky and theatre director Ivan Vyrypaev for “spreading false information” about the Russian army.

The initial court hearings against Mr Rodnyansky and Mr Vyrypaev were held on April 27 but not reported by the court until Wednesday.